The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-06-01
THE NEW SCHOLAR.
"a cowboy, Mr.. Dean !"

picked.
''Why did You bring him to me3 What
in the world shall do with him2"
What shall do with him." asked the
tall gentleman, helplessly. ''He is with
in the school age-ninetcen, he says"
"He looks older"
"Yes; you must allow for sun and wind
and rough living. He intends to live a
year in this town, and he wants to 60 to
school. must put him somewhere. !
can't buy cage ior him, and label him
Specimen from the Wild West"
Il should almost think you might.
What is the native locality Of the Speci-
men'?'
"He says" replied Mr.. Dean, deliber-
ately, THAT his last range was between
Crazy-Woman Creek and Bad-Water
Slough
''0h dear! But how and why and
when did he get into Civilizations"
II have no idea"
''He ;sso large and so old for primary
schooll"
''He is very ignorant. He cannot pos
sibly do the work of higher grade. I
brought him to you because he needs a
very good teacher.
Miss Allen was really troubled. The
superintendent little compliment failed
to clear away the clouds. They had
been talking in low tones, as they paced
the hall, and now they paused at the
open school-room door,
1t was very pretty school-room. There
80, a., J.,
windows, vases and an embroidered table
spread on the teachers desk. The chill
dren were neat and clean. There was an
atmosphere of order and of dainty tidi-
ness about the place, and the place suited
we'll with the young and pretty teacher.
But this morning, looming up behind
the rows of little girls in trim black
stockings and short frocks; behind the
little boys in scarlet hose and knicker.
bocker-hopelessly big, unframed and
out of place, sat the new scholar.
In his way. he was neither ugly nor
awkward. He wore flannel shirt with
a red silk neck handkerchief, and he
held in his hand his huge light sombrero,
ornamented with wide band of red
leather, and with gilt cord; but the
lest of his dress was subdued to the
standard o. Eastern civilization. His
complexion showed tina: clear bright red
which marks the pure sunshine of the
great plains. This, and his light hair
and keen blue eyes, broad shoulders, and
lean, muscular frame, would have made
him an exceedingly picturesque subject"
for an artist; but-in primary school!
'I am positively afraid of himn' said
Miss Allen. "What il he should take it
into his head to scalp us ALL"
"Scnd for me at the first flourish of
the tomahawk," said Mr.. Dean, with a
laugh.
'But, honestly, have no doubt that
he carries pistols. Cowboys always do,
they say"
IL believe so. I will look into that
matter. Now, seriously" and his face
became grave, 81 know what hard
thing 1 have given you to do. but it is in
the line of plain duty to do it we'll. This
young man may be here to make trouble.
In that case we shall very soon know it,
aud promise you that his career shall be
short. But it is possible that he comes to
study and because he would like to make
something of himself. If he wants a
chance, it is our business, as public
school teachers, to see that he has it."
''He shall have his chance, if can
help him." said the teacher, earnestly.
81 am sure of that. And now for the
pistol. james! James Ferguson! Come
here. please. Have you firearms about
youi" he asked, abruptly, thinking to
take the boy by surprise, and so get at
the truth.
Jim, who had tolerably keen sense of
the fitness of things, had no more idea of
taking his pistol to school than he had of
presenting himself with spurs, "cuirt and
shapps."
But every cowboy feels himself in
duty bound to make an impression on a
''tenderfoot" whenever the ''tendcrfoot"
shows himself ready to be impressed.
Jim's blue eyes twinkled, but he gravely
felt in his pockets.
Thunder :" said he. "Taint here. 1
must have been ratified this mornin'.
can rustic around and got it fer you, and
be back before general round up"
"No ! no :" cried the good gentleman,
and explained what Jim knew perfectly
well before, that the pistol must not and
could not come back to school. He felt
that he had in some way blundered with
the boy, but he did not know how.
"What do you think of the school ?"
he asked, kindly laying one hand on the
boys shoulders.
'.Pretty slick little outfit :" replied
jim.
"Hem Well, James, hope you will
do we'll. I shall advance you as soon as
you can do the work of a higher grade. !"
As Mr.. Dean and Jim stood together,
it was evident that the cowboy was not
very tall. But there was breeziness,
an ut-of-door roominess, that would
have made him too large for any space
insids of four walls.
1t was not long before Miss Allen knew
from jim himself why he was there. She
was told how Jim's father had left the
State when Jim was only yearling, and
how he was white kind of man, but
couldn't seem to gather on to anything.
And first. Jim's mother had died, and
then his father, and left him to rustic for
himself. And he had done il. too. until
now. But an uncle dowa East had just
looked him up, and had offered to do
something for him. This uncle had
promised Jim a good team and little
bunch of cattle if he would come here
and 90 to school a whole year.
"The very day school is out" Jim went
on sI shall start for the West. When